A short film created by students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) has been selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, marking a significant achievement for the university’s Faculty of Communications and Chilean animation. Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night, a stop-motion animated film directed by Martín André and Josefina Montino, will be featured in the Official Selection of Animated Short Films at the festival, which runs from to in Utah.
The selection represents a culmination of years of study and dedicated work for André and Montino, who developed the film as a thesis project in 2023. The film’s journey to Sundance began unexpectedly, as André recounts receiving repeated calls from an unknown number, ultimately leading to an invitation from a Sundance short film programmer. “It was very exciting and surprising news,” he said.
A Story Forged in Stop-Motion
Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night tells the story of Pedro, a man grappling with grief after the loss of his daughter. He retreats to a remote house in the forest with his cat, only to be haunted by manifestations of his past trauma, taking the form of a monstrous figure. The nine-minute film explores themes of loss, fear, and the struggle to confront inner demons. The filmmakers chose stop-motion animation as the medium to convey this emotionally resonant narrative, despite having limited prior experience with the technique.
“We had to work long hours and for many consecutive days of the week,” André explained. “Animation is incredibly slow, but we really wanted to tell the story in stop motion and we were willing to do whatever it took.” The production involved meticulous set building, prop creation, and puppet fabrication, all undertaken through collaborative effort. Montino emphasized the team’s dedication: “We put it all together, contributing both ideas and manual labor, because it took many days of work. All the effort and love that our team put into It’s reflected in the final work. We created a world from scratch, which conveys many things.”
Prisma and the Rising Profile of Chilean Animation
The film’s success is also a testament to the growing prominence of the Prisma catalogue, the distribution arm of the UC Chile Faculty of Communications. Prisma is dedicated to promoting the work of students in the Audiovisual Communication program, providing a platform for their films to reach international audiences. Marcela Santibáñez, a faculty member and Director of Prisma, noted a shift in the program’s culture. “A few years ago, I don’t think we would have even imagined Sundance as an option, and I believe that this has created a culture of believing in ourselves, that what we are making are great short films, that they’re being recognized at an international level,” she commented.
Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night has already garnered recognition beyond Sundance, having premiered internationally at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in . It also participated in the Chilean University Film and Audiovisual Network showcase at the Viña del Mar Film Festival and the Chilemonos Work in Progress event. This string of festival appearances underscores the increasing visibility of Chilean animation on the global stage.
Implications for UC Chile and Chilean Filmmaking
The selection of Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night for Sundance is more than just an individual achievement for André and Montino; it’s a significant boost for UC Chile’s Faculty of Communications and the broader Chilean film industry. The festival’s platform will provide valuable exposure for the filmmakers, potentially opening doors to future opportunities and collaborations. Montino expressed the importance of this opportunity: “It’s an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss, one that will allow us to make a name for ourselves and position ourselves. We are proud to represent Chile at such an important festival.”
The film’s success also highlights the effectiveness of the Prisma distribution model, demonstrating the value of supporting student productions and providing pathways to international recognition. The Faculty of Communications’ investment in its students and its commitment to fostering a culture of self-belief are clearly paying dividends. With 90 short films selected from 28 countries for this year’s festival, Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep at Night will be competing alongside a diverse range of international talent, further solidifying its position as a noteworthy contribution to the world of animated short film.
